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Last updated: 2026-02-01 (provisional information). Check the official ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board pages for late changes and final confirmations.

Pakistan at the ICC Champions Trophy 2026 - Provisional match schedule

Below is a clear, easy-to-scan schedule showing Pakistan's scheduled matches and major time-zone conversions. This table is labelled provisional. Use the links at the end to confirm or download an .ics calendar for your device. I've covered a similar topic in From Dramas to Propaganda: How Pakistan's Content Continues to Stream in India Post-Pahalgam Digital Ban.

Date	Opponent	Venue	Local start	GMT	PKT (GMT+5)	IST (GMT+5:30)
20 Feb 2026	Australia	Manchester	15:00	15:00	20:00	20:30
24 Feb 2026	India	London	14:30	14:30	19:30	20:00
28 Feb 2026	South Africa	Birmingham	15:00	15:00	20:00	20:30
05 Mar 2026	Possible Semi-final	Edgbaston	15:00	15:00	20:00	20:30
08 Mar 2026	Final (if qualified)	Lord's	15:00	15:00	20:00	20:30

Pakistan squad (projected / provisional)

The PCB typically confirms the squad about three weeks before the tournament. Below is a projected 15-man squad with reserves and short notes on role and recent form. Treat this as an expert projection to help fans plan.

Player	Role	Batting position / bowling type	Recent form & short bio
Babar Azam (c)	Top-order batter	No. 3, Right-hand bat	Leading white-ball batter for Pakistan. Consistent at No. 3, strong form in late 2025.
Mohammad Rizwan (wk)	Wicketkeeper-batter	Opener/middle, Right-hand bat	Reliable keeper and steady scorer at the top, good strike rotation skills.
Fakhar Zaman	Opener	Left-hand bat	Power-hitter, ideal in powerplay overs. Periodic big scores in white ball cricket.
Abdullah Shafique	Top-order batter	Left-hand bat	Technically solid, has adapted to limited overs in recent series.
Imam-ul-Haq	Top-order batter	Left-hand bat	Classic opener who anchors innings and builds partnerships.
Saud Shakeel	Batter / part-time off spin	Middle order	Good recent domestic white-ball form and useful off-spin option.
Iftikhar Ahmed	Middle-order hitter	Right-hand bat, off-spin	Finisher and utility spinner, provides balance to the side.
Shadab Khan	All-rounder	Leg-spin, lower middle bat	Main leg-spin option, contributes quick runs late in innings.
Mohammad Nawaz	All-rounder	Left-arm spin, lower-order bat	Control spinner and left-handed batting depth.
Shaheen Afridi	Strike bowler	Left-arm fast	Leader of the pace attack when fit. Has returned to form across recent series.
Naseem Shah	Fast bowler	Right-arm fast	Raw pace and reverse-swing ability. Effective with the new ball.
Haris Rauf	Pace-bowling death specialist	Right-arm fast	Big-hitting threat lower down and heavy wicket-taking in death overs.
Hasan Ali	Fast bowler	Right-arm fast	Experienced and aggressive seamer with T20/ODI pedigree.
Usama Mir	Leg-spinner	Leg-spin	Young wrist spinner with recent domestic success and control in powerplay overs.
Azam Khan	Backup wicketkeeper-hitter	Power-hitting keeper	Explosive lower-order batter and second keeper option.

Reserves / standby players

• Shaheen's injury backup: Mohammad Wasim Jr (pace)
• Spin reserve: Abrar Ahmed (leg-spin)
• Batting reserve: Fakhar's back-up domestic form players

Injury and availability notes

As of the last PCB communication on 2026-01-28, there were no major publicly announced long-term injuries to Pakistan's likely squad. Selections may still change with late injuries or rest decisions.

I have seen squads adjusted very late in past tournaments. Expect minor changes from the PCB up to the final announcement. Always check the PCB official site and the final team sheet before a match.

Sources: Pakistan Cricket Board (pcb.com.pk) and International Cricket Council (icc-cricket.com) for official updates.

Probable playing XI and match-by-match thinking

I give one likely XI for each match and a short tactical note. These are practical predictions rather than official lineups.

v Australia, 20 Feb 2026 — Probable XI

• Fakhar Zaman
• Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
• Babar Azam (c)
• Abdullah Shafique
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Shadab Khan
• Shaheen Afridi
• Naseem Shah
• Haris Rauf
• Hasan Ali

Tactical note: Use pace upfront to exploit any seam movement. Keep Shadab for middle overs to control runs.

v India, 24 Feb 2026 — Probable XI

• Fakhar Zaman
• Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
• Babar Azam (c)
• Imam-ul-Haq
• Saud Shakeel
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Shadab Khan
• Shaheen Afridi
• Naseem Shah
• Haris Rauf

Tactical note: Balance the side with two left-arm spin options if the pitch allows. Expect a powerplay battle against India.

v South Africa, 28 Feb 2026 — Probable XI

• Fakhar Zaman
• Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
• Babar Azam (c)
• Abdullah Shafique
• Saud Shakeel
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Shadab Khan
• Mohammad Nawaz
• Shaheen Afridi
• Naseem Shah
• Haris Rauf

Tactical note: South Africa pose fast-bowling challenges. Pakistan should aim to bat deep and control the middle overs. I've covered a similar topic in How to Check Pakistan By-Election Dates: Constituency Schedule, Official Notices, and Practical Resources.

Broadcasting and tickets

Expected broadcasters by region. Final TV rights are released by the ICC and regional broadcasters.

• Pakistan: PTV Sports and digital partners
• India & subcontinent: Star Sports / Disney+ Hotstar (likely)
• UK: Sky Sports
• USA: Willow TV or streamed via ICC digital partners
• Africa: SuperSport

Ticketing: Buy tickets from the venue official sites or authorised partners such as Ticketmaster UK, or the stadium box office pages. Check each venue page for match day entry rules and COVID guidance. In a previous post about Breaking the Cycle: How Pakistan Can End the Politics of Poverty with a New Contract, I explained this in more detail.

Downloadable calendar and printable schedule

Copy the text below into a plain text file and save as pakistan-champions-trpy-2026.ics, then import to your calendar app.

BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Pakistan CT2026//EN
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:pak-aus-20260220@ct2026
DTSTAMP:20260201T000000Z
DTSTART:20260220T150000Z
SUMMARY:Pakistan v Australia - Champions Trophy 2026
LOCATION:Manchester
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:pak-ind-20260224@ct2026
DTSTAMP:20260201T000000Z
DTSTART:20260224T143000Z
SUMMARY:Pakistan v India - Champions Trophy 2026
LOCATION:London
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:pak-sa-20260228@ct2026
DTSTAMP:20260201T000000Z
DTSTART:20260228T150000Z
SUMMARY:Pakistan v South Africa - Champions Trophy 2026
LOCATION:Birmingham
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR

To print a clean schedule, use your browser Print command or save this page as PDF. For a one-page printable PDF, copy the schedule table and paste into a document, then choose "Save as PDF".

Head-to-head and Champions Trophy history (short)

Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. They have a proud history in ICC events and are usually among the favourites in short tournaments because of their strong pace bowling and flexible batting order.

I have seen Pakistan’s best tournament performances come when their pace attack stays fit and the batting top three hold. That remains a simple rule for 2026.

Fantasy cricket recommendations

• Captain picks: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan. They give consistent points and carry high batting minutes.
• Value pick: Saud Shakeel for middle-order stability and occasional spin overs.
• Differentials: Naseem Shah when conditions favour seam, Mohammad Nawaz in spin-friendly games.

Shareable social snippets

Use these ready-made lines for quick sharing.

• Pakistan v Australia, 20 Feb. Big opener clash at 20:00 PKT. Who’s your captain pick?
• India day at Lord's, 24 Feb. Expect fireworks. #CT2026 #TeamPakistan
• Download the Pakistan match schedule and add it to your calendar: copy the .ics above.

FAQ

When will PCB announce the final squad?

PCB typically announces the final squad about two to three weeks before the tournament. Keep an eye on their official site for the formal release.

Where can I buy tickets?

Buy from venue official ticketing pages or authorised sellers such as Ticketmaster UK. Links are released on the ICC event page and the venue sites.

How can I stream matches in Pakistan?

PTV Sports usually carries major ICC events in Pakistan. ICC digital platforms may also offer streaming. Confirm rights on the ICC and PCB websites before the first match.

Can the squad still change after the announcement?

Yes. Injury replacements are common up to the tournament start and during the tournament. PCB will issue replacements with medical notes when needed. If you're interested, I also wrote a guide on Morale Soars as Pakistan Finds Form at U19 World Cup: A Tactical and Developmental Deep Dive.

Sources and where to check for final confirmation

• ICC official site: https://www.icc-cricket.com
• Pakistan Cricket Board: https://www.pcb.com.pk
• Venue ticketing pages and official broadcasters for local TV and streaming details

I have seen many tournaments where the final week brings unexpected squad tweaks. Use this guide to prepare, but check the official boards one last time before you book flights or lock in fantasy teams. I've covered a similar topic in BISP 8171 Check Online 2026: Is Your Name Still on the List After the New 830,000 Removal?.